Two men questioned over Londonderry barbecue murder

Paul McCauley spent almost a decade in a vegetative state before dying last June

Published:19:46Wednesday 06 April 2016

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Two men are being questioned over the sectarian murder of a civil servant in Northern Ireland.

Paul McCauley, a Catholic, spent almost a decade in a vegetative state after being beaten by loyalists in Londonderry’s Waterside area in 2006. He died in June aged 38.

Two men aged 27 and 28 had been arrested last year and were released on police bail but are now being interviewed at Strand Road police station. Warrants for further detention were approved by a court on Wednesday, police said.

Father-of-one Mr McCauley was 29 when he attended a barbecue for a friend who was moving away from Northern Ireland.

A gang of up to 15 people emerged from nearby bushes and attacked him and two friends as they were clearing up after the meal in the early hours of the morning.

He suffered severe head injuries and died last year.

Mr McCauley’s family has pursued a long campaign for justice.

Piper John McClements, 24, previously known as Daryl Proctor, from the Fountain area of Londonderry, has been charged with the civil servant’s murder.

A total of 16 people have been detained since Mr McCauley’s death last year.